 | Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > NC 500 Scotland |
 
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1845  
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Hi Fabio,
The NC500 includes the road from Inverness to John O' Groats (https://www.northcoast500.com/explore-the-route/) You'd effectively be doing that bit of it twice. Not a bad bit of road though in good visibility. Donald 1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... |
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4th Apr 2019 5:05pm |
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| Fabio Member Since: 05 Aug 2011 Location: Somerset Posts: 589  
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Hi donmacn,
I want to drive the NC500 from Inverness to John O groats but the Grand Tour cut though the top and din't go to John O groats. If i followed the NC500 after john o Groats i could then drive down the road they Drove up on the Grand tour. If you understand what i'm trying to say...  It is hard to explain. 
Fabio |
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4th Apr 2019 5:19pm |
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1845
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Hi Fabio,
I think I get it! If you go to John o' Groats, and then head west, you'll get to Thurso. At that point, you probably have two options to head back south - both leave Thurso by the same road. One would stay further north, heading towards Wick, and then down the coast again. The second turns off this road, about 4 or 5 miles (?) from Thurso and heads further south, but again, just heading for the A9 down the east coast. This crosses the Causeymire moor, and meets the coast again at Latheron. Basically they are two options to make a small loop at the top. I'm at a bit of a disadvantage as I haven't seen the Grand Tour! The Causeymire road is more open moorland, less farmed. Does this look like right on a map? Donald 1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... |
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4th Apr 2019 8:54pm |
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| DSC-off Member Since: 16 Oct 2014 Location: North East Posts: 1428  
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Hi,
The GT team missed the whole North coast! They took the A838 from Lairg, by Loch Shin, to Laxford Bridge. Then turned South for Scourie and Ullapool. If you are at JO'G and want to go back down the A838, you would have to go all the way across to Durness in the far North West first. That's quite a detour. Depending on how much time you have there are many other possible options. The further West you go, the better the scenery is!  |
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4th Apr 2019 10:24pm |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665 
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Agree... Durness to Ullapool is one the best sections of road on the planet! Durness:  Click image to enlarge Kylesku: Click image to enlarge One of my last trips in the Defender... https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic31177...efendering Going up there with mates on motorbikes again next month Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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5th Apr 2019 6:08am |
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1845
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Well, that's quite some detour! I'd agree with the other comments that they missed some great parts of the country. Laxford Bridge to Lairg is 'ok' - but not a patch on the nth coast route. Back to Fabio - now that I've heard what the GT guys did.... another option for you, which would include some of the north coast, would be to head west from Thurso as far as Tongue, and then head south towards Aultnaharra, Lairg and Bonar Bridge. After Bonar and Ardgay, you could follow the coast road back to the A9 at Tain, or a nicer option is to head 'over the Struy' which takes you back to the A9 by Evanton. Some nice views from this road. You'd need to check that out on a map. Inverness to John o Groats - depending on traffic and driving style is about 2.5 - 3 hours. Coming back the way I've suggested would be about an hour longer. Donald 1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... |
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5th Apr 2019 7:04am |
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| Fabio Member Since: 05 Aug 2011 Location: Somerset Posts: 589
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Thank you all for the replies.
Donald I've had a look on google maps and that is about the sort of trip i had in mind. Thank you. I know that the west coast is beautiful I went to the Caingorne mountains,lockness, Applecross, Isle of Skye and the road from Fort william to malaig in 2011. And i think that is what i'll have to do this time because my in laws are coming from Portugal to go with us and those are worth visiting. Is there anywhere else you recommend not too far from Beauly for us to visit? On the way down we will come over Glencoe. Fabio |
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5th Apr 2019 4:32pm |
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1845
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I can have a think about that certainly. What sort of stuff works for you? Drives? walks? history? Donald
1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... |
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5th Apr 2019 7:44pm |
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| Fabio Member Since: 05 Aug 2011 Location: Somerset Posts: 589
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Hi Donald,
I prefer drives , but i think my wife and the children prefer walks and history.
If you have any recommendations it would be great. Thank you Fabio |
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5th Apr 2019 8:41pm |
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| donmacn Member Since: 06 Nov 2017 Location: Nth Scotland Posts: 1845
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Hi Fabio,
Just thinking about this some more.. I'll send a Pm to pick up an email address. Easier to put a few suggestions together on "word" than using a forum. Won't be till later this evening though - I've an appointment with a Defender in a garage for most of today! D Donald 1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong (The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html ) 2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8 in the past.. RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi 1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box 1993 Discovery 300Tdi not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper... |
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6th Apr 2019 7:32am |
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| Fabio Member Since: 05 Aug 2011 Location: Somerset Posts: 589
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Replied.
Thank you Fabio |
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6th Apr 2019 11:31am |
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| Adam17 Member Since: 15 May 2018 Location: Within Bedfordshire Posts: 1193  
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Its on our list this year. Regards
Adam Loving The Duchess The Defender 110 TD5 XS My Defender story - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic64005.html |
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6th Apr 2019 12:30pm |
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| Fabio Member Since: 05 Aug 2011 Location: Somerset Posts: 589
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Morning all,
I had my weeks holiday up near Inverness, visited a few places and drove some of the roads that Donald advised. Managed to have a drink with Donald, it was a pleasure to meet you Sir. Everyone loved it, Scotland is beautiful. thank you for all the advice. Fabio |
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22nd Apr 2019 8:12am |
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